Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 35

The rooms in the examination hall are constructed of wooden boards, providing no protection from the wind. The areas on the roof that lack tiles are only covered with straw and mud, so if it rains heavily, water likely leaks in. The time for the imperial examination approaches winter, and staying in such a drafty room poses a significant test for the candidates’ physical condition.

Tang Dingyuan is lucky to be assigned a room in a more central area. The room is simply furnished, with a wooden bed barely big enough for one person to sleep on; a taller person must curl up to fit. There is a stove, next to which sits a basket of low-quality charcoal, as well as a table propped against the wall and a chair.

As he squats down, he discovers a toilet tucked beneath the wooden bed, covered by a board to mask the odor.

The county and prefecture examinations only take one day, but the imperial examination lasts three full days. Before the academy exam, Tang Dingyuan consults his teacher and seniors about necessary precautions. They advise him to drink less water since the small toilet in the room will only be emptied once daily by the yamen runners. Drinking too much could lead to an uncomfortable situation.

Tang Dingyuan sets down his belongings and surveys the room. Aside from the main entrance, there is just a small window on the wall opposite the table. After he enters, the door is locked from the outside, meaning he must stay in this room for the duration of the three-day exam, with exam papers submitted through the only small window.

No wonder his teacher emphasizes that, in addition to personal strength, luck plays an essential role in the imperial examination. 

Just imagine being trapped in such a small space; if he were to get an upset stomach and have diarrhea, he would surely be overwhelmed by the stench while waiting for the attendants to come and change the chamber pot.

Tang Dingyuan shakes his head and laughs, thinking he shouldn’t be that unlucky.

Soon, the gong of the examination hall rings, signaling the start of the exam.

Several academic officials responsible for supervising the examination sit in the center of the hall, occasionally patrolling the area. Unlike the examinees, they cannot leave the hall for the next few days, but their meals are prepared and delivered by special staff, ensuring their living conditions are significantly better than those of the candidates.

Half a day passes quickly, and the officials’ lunch is brought in.

A bowl of mutton soup, along with two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, steams on the table—five dishes in total, not overly lavish but adequate. The examiners greet one another, pick up their bowls, and prepare to eat, but just as they take their first few bites, a strange fragrance wafts in from the surrounding sheds.

“What’s going on?”

The examiners are all surprised, knowing that the examination hall also provides meals. However, to prevent candidates from having specific dietary restrictions, they can only offer the simplest and safest options, like steamed buns and rice porridge. 

By the time these items reach the candidates, they are mostly cold. Many candidates, wanting to save time, heat these foods on the stove just enough to get through a meal. Those who are a bit more particular might bring some cured meats to cook with the porridge, but such a dominant aroma shouldn’t exist.

The examiners have never encountered a food smell like this before. Watching the billowing white smoke from the small window in the shed, they suddenly find the dishes in front of them lacking in flavor. 

The officials, who have lavish meals in front of them, lose their appetites because of the overpowering aroma of instant noodles. Not to mention the ordinary candidates, who can’t get their hands on any noodles and have to make do with rice porridge and steamed buns.

Faced with hunger, the candidates feel a blow to their spirits as they can only savor the delicious scent without the pleasure of eating it.

Three days pass quickly. With the sound of three gongs, the gate of the examination hall opens, and the examinees file out one by one.

After three days of confinement, all the candidates appear haggard and hunched over, eager to return home for a bath and a good sleep on their spacious beds.

Tang Dingyuan, tall and lanky, finds the wooden bed in the shed particularly torturous. Over the past few days, he can only lie with his knees bent, and each morning he awakens with stiff limbs.

Fortunately, over the years, he has developed a relatively strong physique while training with the Lu family’s brothers. Otherwise, this examination alone could have cost him half his life.

“Let’s head home quickly. Grandma has boiled bathwater for you. You can take a hot bath, drink some hot soup, and get a good night’s sleep.”

Lu Miao’s heart aches at the sight of her future grandson-in-law’s haggard appearance. She quickly takes his belongings and calls for her two granddaughters to follow closely behind, heading home together.

Lu Baobao, with a belly full of things to say, can’t get a word out and obediently follows behind the old lady, worryingly glancing at Xiao Yuan beside her. 

The announcement of the results will come three days later. When they initially rent the house, Grandma Lu plans to stay here until the results are announced, so the four of them are still temporarily residing in that small courtyard.

Apparently, the other two tenants in the courtyard share the same sentiment. When Lu Miao and the others return, they encounter the other two families. However, their minds are focused on their own matters. They exchange a few pleasantries and then head back to their respective rooms.

After taking a hot bath at home and enjoying a bowl of mutton soup that the old lady has stewed all morning, Tang Dingyuan gradually regains his energy and spirit, his face taking on a healthier hue.

“The exam paper isn’t difficult. Before the exam, my teacher analyzes the preferences of several examiners for me. I’m quite confident about this imperial examination,” he says, even though he feels tired and sleepy.

“Good, good, good! Yuan Ge’er, you should go rest now; we can talk more tomorrow.” Lu Miao’s eyes sparkle with laughter, and she nearly grins from ear to ear. 

Her Yuan Ge’er is usually very humble, so hearing him say such things shows he is quite confident. It seems she is about to become a scholar’s grandmother! Lu Miao looks at her future grandson-in-law with such soft eyes that they almost glisten.

“Mm.”

Tang Dingyuan hesitates for a moment as he glances at the obedient girl. Before the exam, she said she wanted to ask him a question when he came out. He secretly looks forward to it, constantly wondering what she wants to ask him. 

But now, with his grandmother urging him to return to his room, it seems he won’t have the chance for a private conversation with Lu Baobao.

He glances at Lu Baobao again, but the oblivious little girl seems to have forgotten their previous agreement, focusing intently on her bowl of mutton soup, her eyes glued to her meal.

Reluctantly, Tang Dingyuan follows his grandmother’s urging and returns to his room. He is indeed very sleepy; it would be better to take a nap to regain his energy and speak with Lu Baobao in the morning.

******

The mattress in Tang Dingyuan’s bedroom is already prepared. It is a rare sunny day, and according to the old lady, Lu Baobao has taken the bedding outside to dry. He throws himself onto the bed, burying his face in the quilt and relishing the scent of sunlight.

As soon as he hits the bed, drowsiness washes over him. Tang Dingyuan quickly takes off his outer clothes, lifts the quilt, and prepares to sleep. However, just as his head hits the pillow, he senses something unusual.

It feels like something hard is underneath the pillow, and it is quite uncomfortable.

Tang Dingyuan opens his eyes, reaches under his pillow, and pulls out two books.

The Legend of Sword and Fairy!

A chill runs down his spine, and his sleepiness vanishes instantly. 

How could these two books be under his pillow? Tang Dingyuan is certain he hasn’t brought them with him, leaving only one possibility: the good girl who helped him tidy up the bedding must have placed them there.

He holds his breath and turns the pages with trembling hands. Sure enough, he finds two names circled in ink.

Lu Dingyuan! Tang Bao!

Heaven, just let him die!

Quickly, he throws the books to the far end of the bed and wraps himself tightly in the quilt.

That little girl must have guessed, and probably only spares him this time because he is about to take the imperial examination. Tomorrow, he will truly be unable to escape.

What will she ask then? How should he respond?

Tang Dingyuan realizes that his usually sharp mind offers no answers at that moment.

After all, he is too exhausted. As he ponders, he gradually drifts into a dream.

In the dream, he carries a magic sword on his back, with a little girl in red following behind him. She wears a red garnet hairpin, from which two golden bells dangle. When she jumps, the bells ring out with a crisp sound.

“Brother Dingyuan.”

The little girl’s voice is as sweet and clear as her appearance. In the dream, he stops and picks her up when she isn’t expecting it.

“Brother Dingyuan.”

The girl shyly buries her face in his chest, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You won’t ever lie to me, right?”

She clutches the collar of his shirt tightly, summoning her courage to look up at him, her eyes filled with deep affection and hope.

“Yeah.” He returned her loving gaze.

“Why did you keep it from me, you jerk? You actually write about me in that book and dare to call me a demon girl from the Demon Cult!”

The shy little girl instantly transforms into a ferocious dragon, and before Tang Dingyuan can react, she somehow produces a wolf-toothed club and begins to pound on his head. Her fierce demeanor startles him awake from his dream.

“Whew—” Tang Dingyuan wipes the cold sweat off his forehead; that dream is truly terrifying.

(Translator’ Notes: Foreshadowing – Henpecked husband)

He turns to look out the window; the sky is already brightening. It is time to get up.

Thinking that Lu Baobao might be waiting outside, Tang Dingyuan hesitates. 

In truth, the book is like a prelude, as if it is about to break through the thin layer of understanding between them. Tang Dingyuan isn’t sure what the little girl is thinking, so he feels uncertain.

He sits quietly on the bed for a long moment before getting up and walking to the closet. He takes out a bamboo green long jacket and, after changing, carefully styles his hair into a bun, securing it with a wooden hairpin.

Using a palm-sized bronze mirror, Tang Dingyuan adjusts the position of the hairpin seven times to ensure he looks neat and handsome.

Once he finishes his preparations, he musters the courage to step out of the room.

Lu Miao has gone to Wenquxing Temple. Although Tang Dingyuan is confident, the old lady feels it is better to pray to the Bodhisattva for good luck.

Not to mention Lu Xiuyu, who has been absent lately; he has no idea what business she is attending to.

Only Lu Baobao remains in the outer room.

As Tang Dingyuan emerges, she walks in carrying a bowl of freshly made hot porridge.

“Brother Dingyuan, I like you so much.” Lu Baobao forces a smile, her tone sweet as if laced with honey.

That line is often said by the little demon girl in the storybook. The lively, bright girl is always generous in expressing her affection for the righteous male protagonist.

Heat rushes from Tang Dingyuan’s heart to his head, and he feels a warmth spreading across his cheeks. This is different from the dream; when the sweet girl speaks those words softly, he feels his heart racing as if it might burst.

Even knowing she doesn’t mean it with sincerity, he still feels a sense of joy welling up in his chest.

Lu Baobao watches as Tang Dingyuan’s fair cheeks turn crimson, the flush at the tips of his ears so vivid it seems ready to drip down. He wears her favorite bamboo green long jacket, and the emerald hue perfectly complements his blushing skin.

She originally intends to tease him, but now it seems she has ignited a fire.

Lu Baobao swallows hard; it seems she not only sparked a fire but is also slightly drawn to it.

“Gulp.”

Lu Baobao feels her thoughts becoming impure; she is a bit tempted, tempted by the boy in front of her.